Records in Open-Water Marathon Swimming: From Fastest to Most
Records in pool swimming have more meaning than those in open water. Pool temperatures are generally the same (and optimal), swimmers are separated by wave dampening lane lines, no wildlife (sharks, jelly fish, eels, etc.), no adverse currents, and storms/strong winds rarely come into play. Compare the differences in the recent 10k Olympics: Calm, freshwater rowing basin/pond in Beijing and London, rough sea in Rio, hot sea in Tokyo, and strong adverse river currents in Paris. As a result, the sport of marathon swimming doesn’t focus on comparative times for these races.
The International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (IMSHOF) does, however, track certain types of records, including: Fastest, first-ever, longest/slowest, youngest/oldest, and most times/totals.
Fastest Swim
The Island of Capri to Naples, Italy (36 km): In the years 1953-1983, 1986-1992, and 2003-2006, this race was considered a major championship and the top swimmers in the world competed. The overall (male/female) speed record is held by Arianna Bridi*, Italy, in a time of 6 hours, 4 minutes, 26 seconds. It helped that Ana Marcela Cunha*, Brazil, Olympic champion and 13 times major winner raced her every meter of the course.
Length of Lake Zurich, Switzerland (27.4 km): Dr. Mohamed Marouf*, Egypt, set the speed record in 1993 in a time of 5 hours, 51 minutes 41 seconds. It still holds more than 30 years later.
English Channel, between England and France (33 km):
- Philip Rush*, New Zealand, set the speed record for a 3-way crossing in 1987 in a time of 28 hours, 21 minutes. It still holds more than 38 years later. Interesting, his time for 2-way (as part of his 3-way swim) also remains a record. A pool comparison might be setting a world record for 1500 meters and also setting the 800 meters record as well in the same swim.
- Not all swimmers enjoy a lengthy period holding onto a speed record. Ernst Vierkoetter*, Germany, set the speed record on August 30, 1926 in a time of 12 hours, 38 minutes. That record was broken 10 days later by Georges Michel* in a time of 11 hours, 5 minutes.
- The current 1-way record was set by Andreas Waschburger, Germany, in 2023 in a time of 6 hours, 45 minutes, 25 seconds. This effort beat previous records set by Trent Grimsey*, Australia, in 2012 in 6 hours, 55 minutes; Petar Stoychev**, Bulgaria, in 2007 in 6 hours, 57 minutes, 50 seconds; Christof Wandratsch*, Germany, in 2005 in 7 hours, 3 minutes, 52 seconds; Chad Hundeby**; USA, in 1994 in 7 hours, 17 minutes; and Penny Lee Dean, EdD**, USA, in 1978 in 7 hours, 40 minutes. Penny held the record for 15 years and coached Chad for his swim.
- Sarah Thomas*, USA, set the record for the fastest (and only ever) 4-way crossing.
First-Ever Swim
David Yudovin**, USA, completed 23 first-ever marathon swims. These swims took he and his wife/crew Beth* from their home waters in the United States and internationally to: Japan, México, New Zealand, Indonesia, Portugal, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe. His first-ever swim between the largest two Islands in Japan (the Tsugaru Strait between Honchu and Hokkaido) is now part of a defined bucket list of swims called the Oceans Seven. First-ever swims require extensive research and often result in surprises (example: an unexpected adverse current).
María Dígna Ezcurra de Ortellado*, Paraguay, between 1954 to 1957 accomplished the following first-ever swims: 1957 Conceptión in Paraguay to Itá Enramada Puerto Pilcomayo in Argentina (381 km in 80 hours, 45 minutes); 1954 Asunción to Formosa (Paraguay); (179 km in 38 hours, 20 minutes); 1956 Asunción to South of Puerto Sara (Paraguay); (80 km in 19 hours, 10 minutes); and 1954 Villa Hayes to Asunción (Paraguay); (27 km in 5 hours, 57 minutes).
Jacques Amoy*, Canada, was the first to swim across lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada in 1955.
Zhang Jian*, China, was the first in 2005 to swim from Hong Kong to Macau (35 km in 10 hours, 43 minutes).
Jan van Scheijndel*, Netherlands, was the first to swim the IJsselmeer (from Stavoren to Medemblik) in 1969.
Mihir Sen*, India, was the first to swim the Palk Strait from Sri Lanka to India in 1966 in 25 hours, 44 minutes.
Longest/Slowest Swim
Charles Zibelman*, USA, set the record for the longest river swim, 233 km (145 miles) down the Hudson River in New York in 1937. This swimmer with double leg amputation was in the water for 148 hours.
Marc Newman*, Great Britain, set the record for the longest gap, 26 years, between two of his English Channel swims.
Marcia Cleveland*, USA, set the record for the longest period (11,253 days) to complete the Oceans Seven Challenge.
Sophie Etheridge, Great Britain, set the record for the longer 1-way English Channel in 29 hours 4 minutes. See above for the fastest which is less than 1/4th the time. The tidal currents in the English Channel switch every six hours (or so), often driving a swimmer away from the finish and Sophie completed the swim despite physical disabilities.
Youngest/Oldest Swimmer
Tom Gregory, Great Britain, swim the English Channel at age 11. Afterward, the minimum age was set at 16.
Pat Gallant-Charette*, USA, set many records as the oldest swimmer: Molokai Channel (2017 – age 66); Lake Ontario South to North (2018 – age 66); Lake Tahoe length (2018 – age 67); Loch Ness (2018 – age 67); and North Channel (2016 – age 65).
Most Times/Totals
Chloë McCardel*, Australia, holds the record for most crossings of the English Channel at 44. This includes a 3-way, several 2-way and 1-way solo swims. This didn’t come easily. She took the record from Alison Streeter, MBE **, from Great Britain, with 43 crossings.
Thomas Lurz*, Germany, won the most FINA (now World Aquatics) open water World Championship medals with 12 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze.
Irene van der Laan*, Netherlands, holds the record of a marathon in 43 different years (between 1978 and 2025).
LongSwims Database keeps a record of swimmers who completed marathons over at least 10 years. Not all swims are recorded in the database, but it is the best data available.
Swimmers inducted into the leading Halls of Fame are noted as follows: *IMSHOF Honoree; ** indicates both International Swimming Hall of Fame and IMSHOF Honoree.
